Air fruit fall speed reducing system

ABSTRACT

An agricultural mechanical harvesting system useable with machines, in which it improves the performance of standard harvesting machines which controls and reduces the damages of the fruit to be harvested, mainly produced by falling gravitationally and striking the surface receiver on machines. The agricultural mechanical harvesting system controls and reduces the rate of fall of fruits harvested by mechanical harvesting machines, thereby increasing the yields of conventional machines and solving the problems of loss in the quality of harvested fruit.

APPLICATION AREA

The present invention relates to an integral mechanical harvesting solution with machines, in which it improves the performance of standard harvesting machines which controls and reduces the damages of the fruit to be harvested, mainly produced by falling gravitationally and striking the surface receiver on machines.

BACKGROUND

The state of the art describes solutions that try to harvest fruits by means of flows and blows of air. U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,040 describes an apparatus for collecting fruit from trees by cutting them with pulsating jets of compressed air and mechanically collecting them in piles comprising a vertically mounted air tank guide element to which a blower unit is slidably attached which has nozzles at its end, said tank being also in fluid communication with additional auxiliary equipment for individually inverting the branches of the shaft and for collecting the cut fruit.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,864 discloses a fruit picking device for receiving fruit shaken from a tree, a frame, an elongated conveyor mounted on said frame and serving to transport fruit to one end of said frame, a generally rectangular flexible cloth adapted to be rolled and unwound for positioning on the floor below said shaft to receive the fruit shaken therefrom, a roll mounted on said elongate conveyor, one side of said sheet being held along said roll so that when the roll is driven. It further comprises an air cushion constructed of a plurality of material sections joined together to form airways extending longitudinally away from the roll, the channels are interconnected to an inlet chamber which is common to all longitudinal cushion channels and serves to distribute air through the cushion.

Describes a fruit harvester—Catching Frame—with rod support with endless collection means. The harvester comprises a pinion chain which is manipulated to rotate a nozzle simultaneously by means of bevel gears to an oppositely directed position. The compressed air passing upward through a handle and the air supply pipe enters the cavity of the pressure chamber where it is distributed through the nozzles and directed to the vanes of the turbine wheel. The air jets of the nozzles drive the wheels of the turbine in a common direction counterclockwise.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

As seen in the State of the Art crop systems do not try to stop the speed of fall of harvested fruits to eliminate choke stroke damage.

There is a need to implement a solution as an integral system to avoid the high percentage of fruit damage due to the traditional mechanical harvesting (current systems) that occur because of the gravitational fall of the fruits inside the mechanical harvesters at be struck against the receiving plates or surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an agricultural mechanical harvesting system, which controls and reduces the rate of fall of fruits harvested by mechanical harvesting machines. The present invention allows to increase the yields of conventional machines and to solve the problems of loss in the quality of harvested fruit.

This system is called Air Fruit Stopper (AFS). The system operates with the injection of a controlled air flow under certain conditions, ranges and parameters that allow the combine machines the controlled reduction of the speed of fall of the fruits detached by the machine from the plants, bringing as a consequence, the decrease of the percentage of damages and losses in the quality of fresh fruit or products harvested by machinery.

The AFS system allows to solve the problem of crop damage caused by the fall of the fruit, as it temporarily reduces the speed of free fall of the fruit.

The AFS system is an integrated mechanical fruit harvesting system, based on continuous and controlled airflow over mechanically harvested fruits, which fall gravitationally. The AFS can be applied or installed on harvesters currently used in the market, and new machines that require it. Current machines can be retrofitted to incorporate the “AFS” system. In addition to the above, AFS will allow the production of a new generation of delicate fruit harvesters (such as berries, cherries, citrus, olive, avocado, pomegranate, stone fruits, etc.) AFS” in order to reap greater quality of fruit destined for fresh consumption and fresh export and, in addition, to reduce the costs of the harvests. The AFS is applicable to any mechanical harvester of fresh fruits, especially if they are delicate fruits, such as berries and others. It is also applicable to any mechanical harvester of non-fresh fruits, for example, European Hazelnut, Olives, Jojoba, Almond, Walnuts, Chestnut, etc.; also to the harvest of greater fresh fruits, as they are citrus, pomaceous, stone fruits, that require mechanical harvest; and in particular, to the harvest of seeds of any type requiring mechanical harvesting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 corresponds to a front view of a harvester machine with the system of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment

FIG. 2 corresponds to a front view of the machine head with the system of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 corresponds to a side view of a harvester machine with the system of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 corresponds to a side view of a harvester machine with the system of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The agricultural mechanical harvesting system of the present invention, or Air Fruit Stopper (AFS) system, operates with the injection of a flow of compressed air under controlled conditions, which allows the reduction of the rate of fall, decrease of damage.

The AFS comprises at least one turbine, air generator, or compressor (1), operative to drive or suck air in adjustable flow ranges and powers, through one or more tubes directed towards the sections where the respective nozzles, and ejection nozzles air (2).

The system further comprises at least one electrical or control panel (or PLC) (3) of each of the elements that make up the “AFS”.

The system comprises at least two air ducting systems (4), between the generator, compressor or turbine (1) and the outlet nozzles (2), which operate on each side of a combine harvester (left and right). The network of multiple nozzles (2) which are in the base and are all designed to reduce the speed of falling fruit. It is an aerodynamic system to stop the fall of the fruit that will operate on each side of the machine (from the bottom up). To achieve this effect, a plurality of upward directional air outlet nozzles are provided to reduce fruit fall velocity, directed at varying upward angles of the machine. Their number can vary according to type and size of equipment (harvester) between 4 and 200 or more nozzles, depending on the need, and according to species and size of fruit or product to be harvested.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the turbines, generators or air compressors (1) may be made of iron, brass, plastic or the like. The pipes are mainly in PVC and plastics, or metals. The materials of the nozzles and the network of air terminals (2) in the network are preferably in metal, copper or plastics of high strength and flexibility, as sanitary conditions.

For traction of the harvester, a trailer can be used by means of a three-point connector and tractor power takeoff, which requires a conventional tractor of 40 to 220 HP of power that tows the harvester where the system “AFS’ or, the traction can be realized by means of an independent or self-propelled system, integrated to the same machine, that has diesel engine or of another fuel to give own mobility to the system where the AFS is installed In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the AFS system is installed within the fruit harvesting unit (110) of a harvester machine (100) (FIGS. 3 and 4), which comprises at least two upright shafts (120), with a height varying from 1 to 4 meters from the ground, and with a distance between vertical axes of 0.30 to 4.5 meters (depending on model). The rotation speed of the axes (for 1 full turn) will vary between 0.1 and 4 minutes or more. The height of the vertical axes varies from 1 to 4 meters in height (depending on the model and species of fruit or product to be harvested). Each of the shafts (120) comprise sequences of horizontal rods (130) inserted and intended to move the plants to achieve the gravitational fall of the fruits, which are arranged at different heights and with the angle of preference for each fruit to be harvested. The angle of the rods (130) is variable and adjustable. These can be installed at different angles, to achieve a better result according to the type of product, fruit or the degree of maturity to be harvested.

The rods (130) have an oscillatory vibrating capacity at their end, with an oscillation range between 1 cm and 80 cm. The measurements or the total length of each of the rods will vary between 50 cm and 150 cm or more.

The rods (130) have the objective of releasing the fruits of the plants, so that they fall by their own gravitational weight, on the lower and receiving section of the fruit inside the machine. The AFS system is preferably installed in the lower section between the receiving surface of the fruit (5) and the height of the first rods (see drawings). The AFS is to be installed at a variable height, mostly from 1 cm to 60 cm above the receiving units (5), and with a maximum width equivalent to the width of the fruit receiving unit. The length will be from the front to the back, or, with a minimum equivalent to the distance of two joined rods (130), and a maximum equivalent to the length of four rods (130).

The rotation of the shafts as the vibration of the rods is regulated and adjusted from an electro hydraulic control (3).

The power supply for the combine harvester can be obtained by a traditional “take-up” system in the range of 540 and 2500 r.p.m. of a conventional Tractor of 40 to 220 HP (according to model) or, by the motor to fuel or electric of a independent or self-propelled unit.

The harvesting machine comprises energy receiving units, which receive power (force) for each of the mechanical components of the combine, for example: for motors and hydraulic components; the components that control the leveling of the machine against the ground; control of the speed of rotation of the axes where the combine rods are; control of the power delivered by the fan(s), intended for cleaning fruit; control of the power delivered by the fan(s), compressors or turbines destined for the ASF system; hydraulic control of opening of the axes, between each other (which is variable between 0.30 and 4 meters, depending on the equipment model) and/or speed control of the conveyor belts that deliver the fruit from the receiving unit to the type of box or container selected by the farmer.

As stated above, the basic principle of the “AFS” system is Aerodynamic Levitation. Its construction depends on the design of the machinery and the type of product (weight and diameter—volume of each species of fruit) but it is based on the same principles.

The air turbines expel the air flow against the products by means of multiple directional nozzles and/or air curtains, duly regulated as to their position and air pressure exerted on the objects (fruits or agricultural products). 

1. A system for reducing the rate of fall of fruit by air flow or AFS installed in a harvesting machine with receiving units comprising receiving surfaces, which allows the reduction of the fall rate, thus resulting in a reduction of the damage, CHARACTERIZED because it comprises at least one air turbine or compressor, operating to drive air in adjustable flow ranges and powers, by means of at least two pipes directed towards nozzles or mouths for ejecting pressurized air flows, at least two conduction systems of air, operating on either side of a combine harvester, and a network of multiple nozzles located below the fruit receiving surfaces and under the combine units (such as rods, flappers, or any other shock or vibration systems).
 2. The system according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises at least one electrical control panel (or PLC) of each of the elements that make up the AFS system.
 3. The system according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED one or more air conduction systems, directed to two or more nozzles for the outputs in horizontal angle of air flows to cancel out the effect of the rising air coming from the network of multiple nozzles that are on the fruit receiving base.
 4. The system according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED because it is configured as any air conduction system as aerodynamic units to stop the speed of falling of the fruit in fruit, seed or agricultural products.
 5. The system according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the aerodynamic system comprises a plurality of upward directional air outlet nozzles for reducing the fruit fall velocity, directed at upward angles of the machine.
 6. The system according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED because the number of nozzles varies between four to two hundred or more.
 7. The system according to claim 7, CHARACTERIZED because the number of variable nozzles can be mounted on various surfaces and formats, for example: in sequence, along the fruit receiving base of the head, or as a half disk or complete disk adhered to the base of support of each axis of harvesting rods, or like injectors of compressed air for the ends and achievements already indicated.
 8. The system according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED because the air system will be using an airflow generator, or a compressor or a turbine, as a means of obtaining controlled pressure air flows, to achieve the degree of lift or of gradual or partial stopping in the rate of falling fruit.
 9. A harvesting machine comprising a fruit harvesting unit, which comprises at least two vertical axes, each of the axes comprise sequences of horizontal rods inserted and intended to move the plants to achieve the gravitational fall of the fruits, the which are arranged at different heights and with the angle of preference for each fruit to be harvested, CHARACTERIZED because it comprises a fruit fall speed reduction system or AFS comprising at least one turbine or compressor, operating to drive or suck air in ranges and adjustable flow powers, by means of at least one or two pipes directed towards nozzles or air outlets under pressure, at least two air conduction systems, which operate simultaneously on each side of a harvester, and a network multiple nozzles that are on the fruit receiving surfaces and under the combine units (rods, flappers, or any or other shock or vibration systems).
 10. The harvesting machine according to claim 9, CHARACTERIZED because the angle of the rods is variable and adjustable.
 11. The harvester machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the vertical axes have a height varying from 1 to 4 meters from the ground, and with a distance range between the axes of 0.30 to 4 meters (depending on the model).
 12. The harvesting machine according to claim 9, CHARACTERIZED because the rotation speed of the axes (for 1 full turn) will be variable between 0.1 minute and 4 minutes or more.
 13. The harvesting machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the rods have an oscillatory vibratory capacity at their end, with a range of oscillation between 1 cm and 40 cm and the measures or the total length of each of the rods will vary between 50 cm and 150 cm or more. 